Consultation for a possible revision has been scheduled!

What can I expect at this meeting? Anyone have a VRG resvision? If so, what kind of revision did you have and why? What is the most reliable procedure for success? Any information would greatly be appreciated. I want to go in with my eyes wide open, not starry-eyed with my head about to bust thinking I can cheat my way to thinytown. My first real meal when I came home after the first surgery was to get myself a whopper and stuff as much as I could get in my mouth at one time. I chewed it, sucking every bit of flavor I could then proceded to spit the solids out in the trash. I found every trick in the book. I fooled myself into thinking I could still eat what I wanted because I was still losing weight. Now 10 yrs. later, I am considering a revision to do right.

Hi April, On November 17, 05 I had a revision from an old VBG (1989) to RNY. At the initial consultation my Dr. required a copy of the op report from the first surgery, so try to get that before you meet with him. Then I was scheduled for an upper GI, then they submitted to insurance. We received approval about 3 weeks later and surgery was scheduled. The surgery itself was not bad... I was in the hospital five days, a bit longer than usual but my blood pressure was way low so they kept me. The first 2-3 weeks of recovery at home were rough, but I'm doing great now. I'm back to work full time and have plenty of energy, and I'm very careful to get in enough protein and all my vitamins. I've lost about 37 pounds so far.... not as much as some but I barely had 100 lbs. to lose, so I am happy with the results. I've connected up with a good support group because I live only about 20 miles from Vitalady and she has a great monthly support group. Plus I get most of my vitamins and protein from her. Good luck on your revision journey.... Lynne

Hi April, You probably already had your consult. I can sympathize with you. Initially, following my VGB, I followed everything they told me (even tho' I now know that it wasn't all good advice). Then, eventually, I found ways to "cheat" altho' I didn't think of it as cheating at the time. Like you I figured as long as I was still losing I was doing ok. I am seeing that that is a common way of thinking. People think that since they had this surgery they are "CURED" and will never regain. Ohhh....if only they could read some of the posts on here eh? I went to the surgeon because my GERD, that had been under control for about 2 years, was flairing up again They told me that I may or may not have to jump thru' the same old hoops. They (and I ) were hoping that since I was back with the same insurance company that had approved the VGB that things would go smoother. Truth is....they did. I had my consult July9,2005. I had a scope aruond July 15,2005. I went to my next appt ( I was supposed to have a total of 3 where they would tell me all the reasons to NOT have the surgery, since I already had all the reason TO have the surgery). The surgeon asked me "How soon do you want to have this done?" He didn't want to wait until the end of Aug. Told me "I dont' care if you ever lose another pound, we need to fix your stomach NOW" My band had stenosed & wouldn't allow the scope thru'. I had 2 scopes done previously so this must have happened recently. Anyways, I had the surgery Aug 19,2005. It is 8 months later & I have lost 86 lbs. They had told me that most revisions only have a 30% success rate (also a 30% higher mortality rate) but I seem to be pretty much on track with everyone else out there.clap: I have a ways to go, I also need to be alert to all the danger signals. I know that I will pick up bad habits again. Our bodies are used to being larger & will do whatever it takes to get us back there. Not sure why but that is the way it goes. They tell us not to weigh in every day BUT right now I need to & I HAVE to make it a habit to get on that scale. That was part of my downfall in the past, as soon as the scale turned the wrong way I jumped off of it & never got back on. Kind of hard to keep tabs on things that way EH? Kind of like not looking at the gas gauge just because you don't want to see that you are about to run out of gas. I actually looked in the mirror the other day. I mean REALLY looked, not just a quick side glance to see if I could still see myself. I liked what I am starting to see, I am not done by far but I like the way things are starting to look. Good luck & keep us updated on what is going on, Berta

If only they had a surgery that could change us from the neck up. Short of a labotomy that is lol Seems to me that people are stuggling harder with the surgery than without. The forced starvation,while taking vitamins to counteract that.. the extra surgeries.. the complications.. Somehow through all this searching I am doing, I would rather remain fat n sassy, take one pill for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, than to vomit, have more surgeries for hernias, stenosis, etc... take a chance that a few years from now I will become anemic, needing blood transfusions.. AND if i dont toe the line, I could gain easily because my metabolism is shot.. This is ALL SO SCAREY... Call me a FAT CHICKEN but I change my mind LOL